Man Admits Stealing Easter Baskets From Walmart

"It made me lose my mind," Sanabrai, 50, of Hartford, said during a brief interview Monday outside the courthouse where he was arraigned and convicted of sixth-degree larceny.

Marshals led Sanabria, of Sterling Street, into the courtroom for his arraignment and he smiled broadly for Judge Joan Alexander. She read the report of his arrest and said, incredulously, "He stole Easter baskets? Allegedly?"

Sanabria had been in custody since Saturday, the day of the theft. He was given a chance to be set free and have his case resolved in exchange for a guilty plea. He obliged.

Charges of interfering with an officer and illegally obtaining prescription drugs — he had clopidogrel, which prevents blood clots in arteries — were dropped.

"Instead of three months for stealing those Easter baskets, you get time served," the judge said.

He was given an unconditional discharge, which means he was released without probation or other obligations. He still has to go to community court on an unrelated charge, she said.

According to a police report, patrons of the Walmart on 495 Flatbush Avenue approached an officer about 4 p.m. Saturday and told him that a man — later identified as Sanabria — stole a shopping cart full of Easter baskets. The officer found Sanabria in the parking lot, wearing a bright yellow T-shirt, blue jeans and a red bag around his chest, trying to sell the baskets. He had stolen 10.

Sanabria told the officer, "I got seven kids and needed the baskets," the report states. When he tried to run, the officer took him to the ground with a twist of the wrist.

The officer took him to the security office, where Sanabria said the prescription drugs belonged to another person.

Someone had given him a marijuana cigarette laced with PCP, he told the officer.

He said the same thing after court.

"Some guy gave me 'dust,'" he said.

Sanabria said he knew the man who gave it to him, but he didn't know it had PCP in it. PCP also is known as angel dust.